Excitable Boy

I’m really liking Phil Ulrich as the Hobgoblin in Amazing Spider-Man. The character’s been my favorite part of the last few issues:

I’d almost quit reading after “The Grim Hunt,” just ‘cause the alternating teams of writers and artists made “The Gauntlet” feel uneven… And ‘cause the book was coming out so frequently and wasn’t always as rewarding as it should have been for what it cost. Plus, all the pre-press of what was to come with “Big Time” didn’t really entice me.

Now I’m glad I’ve stuck with it. And I finally got around to reading issue 651 the other night. I hadn’t been to my local comic shop in like three weeks until last Wednesday. Now I’ve just got to find time to stop in today and pick up yesterday’s releases.

And for as much as I’ve been enjoying Phil Ulrich as the Hobgoblin, I’m glad that issue 651 ended with what looks like the character stepping out of the main story for a while. From the looks of the cover of issue 652, it looks like Scorpion and the Spider Slayers are moving from the back-up story to the main arc.

Dan Slott’s smart to have Hobgoblin exit on a high note if I’m right about that, leaving readers wanting more. Or at least me. I guess I’ll keep buying for a while.

Interesting… Just read on The Source that as of this month, DC Comics titles will no longer carry the Comics Code Authority Seal of Approval.

Instead, DC will employ a rating system consistent with that of the rest of the industry, as well as with digital releases, which already utilize a rating system. Vertigo comics will not use the rating system, as the books will continue to be labeled “For Mature Readers.”

Beginning with the April 2011 titles, the covers of all DC comics will utilize the following rating system:

E – EVERYONE

Appropriate for readers of all ages. May contain cartoon violence and/or some comic mischief.

T – TEEN

Appropriate for readers age 12 and older. May contain mild violence, language and/or suggestive themes.

T+ - TEEN PLUS

Appropriate for readers age 16 and older. May contain moderate violence, mild profanity, graphic imagery and/or suggestive themes.

M – MATURE

Appropriate for readers age 18 and older. May contain intense violence, extensive profanity, nudity, sexual themes and other content suitable only for older readers.

Amazing Spider Man # 648 doesn’t come out ‘til November, so that leaves three issues to hit stands in the next few weeks:

I think “Big Time” is a terrible name for the new arc of Amazing Spider-Man:

Though, truthfully, I think “Big Time” is pretty much a terrible name for just about everything (the ‘88 live album by Tom Waits being an exception).

And now I’ve got that Dick Cheney soundbite stuck in my head. Y’know, the one where he was agreeing with Bush about a New York Times reporter being a “major league asshole.”

Issue 648 arrives Nov. 10 and brings with it a new job for Peter Parker as well as a new costume, girlfriend and Spider-Girl. So, shitty title aside, I’ll likely still be buying it.

A police standoff prevented me from picking up my comics yesterday:

Some selfish, obviously comic-hating jerk holed himself up for hours on end. So my Wednesday night? No “Gotham City Sirens.” Damn shame.

The Post-Journal has the full story here.

Photos by Andrew Carr and Christopher Kinsler.

Comics are cool and all, but Scarlett Johansson is Scarlett Johansson.

Not that that matters much. This is apparently still a worthwhile read:

That’s the variant cover from Marvel’s Black Widow #7. The issue’s in stores Oct. 27.

Everything is coming together.

My application for press credentials was approved last week. My Saturday shift just got covered yesterday. Plus now my wife’s Deluxe Pass is paid for.

All that together means I’m going to Toronto, Canada this weekend for Fan Expo:

EDIT: I did all my Fan Expo posting over at my other blog. Pictures. Opinions. Recap. Whatnot. I posted there just ‘cause I was thinking about axing this blog (technical issues), but now am thinking maybe I’ll keep with it.

I was just thinking about this series the other day, wondering if I’d missed it hitting store shelves or if it was just never coming out:

That cover is terribly awesome. It looks like a beer commercial, right before the freeze frame.

“Long day battling bad guys on your adopted home planet? Grab your lady, your closest bud an unwind with a cold one.”

Not that there’s anything wrong with Superman grabbing a beer. Dude deserves it. That pose is just, well, terribly awesome.

I guess the variant cover is alright, though neither really excites me. I’m just really not all that big on Superman.

In fact, I just started to write: “I don’t even know why I’m buying this,” but then I remembered… DC sent me the first issue to review for the paper. And being the obsessive completist I am, I’ve been picking up the subsequent issues.

Ah well, at least it’s ending. Then I can put that money toward bat books, where it belongs.

Alright… Touche, Marvel… Maybe I will have to start picking up a Norse mythology-based character this fall:

The new Valkyrie series spotlights “one of the most powerful Secret Avengers and her mysterious rebirth,” according to the Marvel press release.

From the release: After Ragnarok claimed her life, the world never expected to see Valkyrie again, but Harvey Award-winning writer Bryan J.L. Glass and rising-star artist Phil Winslade brings readers a new inside look at the life and trials of the misunderstood heroine. Valkyrie goes from a myth to a defender and finally an Avenger in Valkyrie # 1 this September.

Just saw I missed this in my e-mail yesterday:

Bill Willingham will be writing a new limited series for Marvel called “Warriors Three.”

From the release: “Hogun, Fandral, and Volstagg are the Warriors Three, allies of Thor and some of the greatest warriors the world has ever seen. When an evil from Hel, unlike any seen by man or God, makes its move, these Asgardians may be the world’s only hope”

Honestly, I’m not sure Willingham’s involvement will be enough to get me reading.I’m not huge on the Norse mythology-based characters.

I think I’ll stick to catching up on “Fables,” which I’m behind the times on and really enjoying.

Picked up two issues of Detective Comics the other day solely because of this Mike Mignola cover:

Turns out the issue kicks off a noteworthy run by writers Alan Grant and John Wagner.

Found that out when I stumbled across this CBR story from like a month ago.